Roundabout



E. A. DIEHL ROUNDABOUT June 20, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 26, 1958 Afro/mfr June 20, 1961 E. A. DIEHL 2,989,308

ROUNDABOUT Filed Nov. 26. 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United Sme-S1A Parent 015C@ 2,989,308 ROUNDABOUT Erich Anton Diehl, Reichmtrasse 3, Saarbrucken, Germany Filed Nov. 26, 1958, Ser. No. 776,577 Claims priority, application Germany Dec. 4, 1957 3 Claims. (Cl. 272-36) The present invention relates to a roundabout having seat carriers which are pivotable in radial planes until reaching a substantially vertical position which is limited by a vertical guide-way. A roundabout of this type is already known in the form of an imitation of a so-called death track.

This known type of roundabout presents a number of limitations which are very disadvantageous for the operation thereof. Entering and leaving is possible only in a limited peripheral zone, so that there mus-t always be relatively long stops between rides or operating periods. The operation of the roundabout is thereby rendered uneconomical.

In order to eliminate these drawbacks, the present invention provides a roundabout in which it is possible for passengers to get in and out simultaneously along the entire periphery thereof, and which in addition thereto afords a more diverting ride and a correspondingly greater deg-ree of amusement.

The roundabout according to the present invention corresponds with the known constructions insofar that the seat carriers are pivotable in radial planes and during operation m'ove along a vertical guide-way. The roundabout according to the present invention differs from the known construction mainly in that the seat carriers on their side facin-g the roundabout axis are articulated to a rotating drive system, and on their side remote from the roundabout axis are supported on a bead-shaped or crowned guide-way with continuous transition from an upper substantially horizontal running surface to a radially inner substantially vertical running surface, and in that the drive system and the bead-shaped surface are adjustable relative to each other in axial direction.

Further features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a roundabout which is diagrammatically shown in the accompanying drawing, in which FIG. 1 is a plan view of the roundabout with parts of the running ring and the guide-way broken away in order to show the construction more clearly,

FIGS. 2 to 4 are sectional views taken along line A-B in FIG. 1 and showing the seat carriers in different positions, and

(FIG. is an elevational view, partly in section, of another embodiment.

The roundabout comprises substantially a base Aframe C, a running ring D, and a guide-way E.

The base frame is composed of a ring 1 and radial stays 2 which carry vertical posts 3. On each radial stay is fixed a supporting bracket 4 in which is supported a wheel 5. All or some of the wheels 5 are designed as drive wheels and are for this purpose connected with a motor (not shofwn) in any suitable way. Conveniently, the wheels 5 are constructed as friction wheels with pneumatic tires.

Patented June 20, 19.61`

The lguide-way E is mounted on the vertical posts 3 in such a manner that it can be moved up and down in a vertical direction parallel to the roundabout axis. The guide-way E is of bead-like or crowned shape and comprises an upper substantially horizontal running surface 6 and an inwardly directed substantially vertical running surface 7. The two lrunning surfaces 6 and 7 are connected with each other by an arcuate surface 8 which forms a continuous transition between the surfaces 6 and 7.

The running ring D is supported on the wheels 5 which, when driven, impart rotational movement to it. The seat carriers 9 are articulated to the upper side of the running ring at 10. On the other side the seat carriers 9 are supported on the guide-way E through the intermediary of skids or rollers 11.

When the roundabout is not in operation the running ring D and the guide-way E assume the position shown in FIG. 2. The passengers may thereby easily reach the seat carriers 9 around the entire periphery of the roundabout and may get in and out very comfortably. After the beginning of the ride the guide-way E is raised, so that the seat carriers Will rst assume an oblique position as shown in FIG. 3, and with further elevation of the guideway to a predetermined maximum will reach the substantially vertical position according to FIG. 4. When the guide-way E is lowered, the seat carriers 9 are pivoted in the reverse direction.

The seat carriers 9 may be designed in any desired manner. Generally, it will be recommendable to design the seat carriers as replicas of vehicles such as motorcycles, bobsleighs, and the like.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 5. According to this embodiment, the seat carrier 9 is connected by the articulated joint 10 with a radial arm 12 of a rotating hollow cylinder 13. Housed within the hollow cylinder 13 is a driving motor 14, a gear 15 of which co-operates with an internal ring gear 16 of the hollow cylinder 13.

The embodiment according to FIGS. l-4 may be readily modified so that the guide-way E is at all times at a fixed height, while the running ring D together with its driving means can be raised and lowered. It is also possible to provide the possibility of vertical displacement for the guide-Way E as well as for the running ring. Like modifications may also be effected in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5.

I claim:

1. A noundabout comprising a plurality of passenger carriers disposed at spaced intervals in a circular array, an annular guideway coaxial with the circular array and having a planar horizontal upper face, a vertical inner face and an arcuate face smoothly interconnecting the upper and inner faces, means at the radially outer region of each carrier for guiding the carrier along the upper, arcuate and inner surfaces of the annular guideway and always resting on one of said faces, an annular rotatable dn'ving means disposed coaxially to the interior of the annular guideway, and a plurality of pivotal interconnections of predetermined length extending from the driving means radially and equal in number to the plurality of passenger carriers between the annular driving means and the carriers, respectively, the annular guideway and the annular driving means being movable ver- 3 i tically relative to each other so that when the driving means and the guideway are horizontally aligned the carriers are horizontal with their guiding means on the horizontal upper surface of the guideway while with increasing distance of the guideway above the driving means the carrier guiding means move radially inwardly from the upper surface of the guideway to the arcuate surface and to the inner vertical surface thereof tilting the carriers to a nal substantially vertical position.

2. 'Ihe roundabout according to claim 1 in which the 10 5 lar driving means is immovable vertically.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,583,287 Fisher `May 4, 1926 

